Pages

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Dollar Bin Film:Invasion of the Body Snatchers(1978)

I debated reviewing this movie on dbh. Technically, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is neatly catergorized as sci-fi. Yet, this 1978 Philip Kaufman-directed remake of the 1956 film has plenty of horrific elements in it to be, in my opinion, a cross-genre film. A well-made, cross-genre film which is a remake!(gasp!)

The film begins when an ameoba-looking species travel millions of miles(somehow surviving the freezing, airless black void of space) to our rock in the solar system. Though a rainstorm, these creatures land on trees and plants, forming tiny little pods(not iPods, kids). And then it begins. The next day, people start acting very strange, souless, distant.

This piques the interest of a San Francisco health inspector(played by Jack Bauer's real-life father Donald Sutherland) and his friend/colleague/would be romantic interest Elizabeth. The assimilated aliens start taking over the city by the bay, causing fear and mistrust in the health inspector's group which includes a writer(Jeff Goldblum), his wife,and a shrink(played by SPOCK!!!!!!!!) in addition to folks who believe their loved ones have been possessed by these extra-terrestrials.

Needless to say, cries of help to federal and state agencies go unanswered as it becomes obvivious the vistors are winning so it's up to the inspector and his gal pal to destroy the lab in which the pods are being grown. A betrayal takes places amongest the group thanks to SPOCK!!!! Luckily, the gang escapes but unfortnately, it's too late for writer guy who valiently gives health inspector and friend time to escape.

Another piece of bad news happens to poor Elizabeth so it's up to the Inspector Man to finish the task. The ending is a memoriable piece of film-making(at least for 1978).

Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a great example of a remake done right. It's not wash, rinse, and repeat. Instead, it leaves it's own stamp. It's very gory, well-acted, and will hold your interest if you prefer substance over style in your cross-genre film. Do yourself a favor however reader. Watch the original and read the novel by Jack Finney before viewing this. 8.5/10

"Dollar Bin Horror is run by Rhonny Reaper and has some of the coolest finds I have ever seen gathered in one place. I've loved it since I found it many moons ago and love seeing what she has found and what she writes about it. It's a great site" - Scoob from Blog of a Dead Dreamer

"Born on a mountaintop in TennesseeKilled her a bear when she was only threeRhonny, Rhonny Reaper, Queen of the Blogosphere" - Davy Crockett Lyric interpretation by Patrick of Stabbing Stabbing Stabbing"You're prolific!" - B-Sol of The Vault of Horror

"Love your blog" - Shalaco Sching of My Zombie Pinups"Dollar Bin Horror digs into the used bin of films and books that have gone the way of the dinosaur, repackages them into small morsels of insightful funnyness and keeps you posted on all things horror. And it's free to read!" - Jeff Atencio of The Jaded Viewer

"A great Horror blog run by a woman who knows her Horror! Rhonny Reaper brings you "the best in cheap thrills, gory spills, and everything macabre"! This blog is full of movie reviews of some great older "dollar bin" type of movies. This is one to bookmark for sure!" - Hayes Hudson of Hayes Hudson's House of Horrors

"Rhonny Reaper runs the most prolific blog out there, and she's fun!" - C.L. Hadden of Fascination With Fear

"Her blog is one of the most creative I have ever come across. What a great idea. Brava!" - Andre Dumas of The Horror Digest